My Husband Is a Million Years Old Vampire-Chapter 25

Valentina’s steps were firm as she walked toward the exit, her mind set on finding another place with more reasonable prices. However, before she could take another step, Raymond gently took her hand, pulling her back toward him.

His touch was warm, steady. "Valentina," he said softly, his voice calm but resolute.

"You don’t have to worry about the price. I can afford it."

Immediately She sighed, shaking her head.

"That’s not the point, Raymond. It’s just a ring. Spending this much feels unnecessary."

Raymond’s lips curved into a small smile.

"It might just be a ring to you, but to me, it’s a symbol of our commitment. I don’t want to give you just anything—I want to give you the best, because you deserve it."

She hesitated, her resolve wavering. He wasn’t pushing her, wasn’t forcing her, but there was something in his tone that made her chest tighten. It wasn’t about the money. It was about him wanting to do something for her—something meaningful.

After a long pause, she exhaled, finally nodding.

"Fine," she muttered. "We’ll take it."

Immediately a satisfied smile crossed Raymond’s lips as he turned back to the staff. "We’ll go for the $10,000 ring."

The staff, who had been silently watching, immediately brightened. "Right this way, sir."

She led them deeper into the store, where the premium wedding rings were displayed in a glass case. The lighting reflected off the polished bands, making them sparkle. Valentina’s fingers hovered over the selection as she carefully examined each one, searching for the one that felt right.

As Valentina ran her fingers over the delicate rings displayed before her, a familiar voice drifted through the store. Her body stiffened.

The voice was unmistakable—Chloe.

Her heartbeat quickened as she instinctively turned toward the source of the voice. There, across the store, standing before a display of extravagant rings, was Chloe, admiring a $50,000 wedding ring with a salesperson beside her.

At that moment Valentina’s stomach twisted. Bernard must have told them.

He must have rushed back to the family and spilled everything—that she was alive, that her scars were gone, that she was more beautiful than ever.

Her grip on Raymond’s hand tightened. She didn’t want to deal with Chloe. Not here. Not now.

Without another glance in Chloe’s direction, she turned to Raymond and whispered, "Let’s just get the ring and leave. I don’t want to waste any more time here."

Raymond’s sharp eyes flickered toward Chloe for a brief second before settling back on Valentina. He didn’t ask questions. He simply nodded, respecting her decision.

Without hesitation, he signaled to the staff.

"We’ll take this one."

Valentina exhaled softly, her fingers curling around Raymond’s arm as they prepared to finalize the purchase and leave before Chloe could notice them.

Valentina had barely lifted the ring from its case when someone suddenly bumped into her, nearly knocking it from her grasp.

A sharp scoff followed.

"Watch where you’re going!"

Valentina turned to see a tall woman with sleek, manicured nails and an air of entitlement glaring down at her.

It was Victoria—Chloe’s right-hand girl.

Immediately Victoria crossed her arms and tilted her chin arrogantly.

"Do you even know who you just bumped into?" she sneered.

"Or are you so lost in your own little world that you can’t see where you’re going?"

However Valentina remained silent, gripping Raymond’s arm, unwilling to engage.

Victoria wasn’t done. Her voice dripped with mockery.

"And here I was, wondering who would be standing at the $10,000 section, making a fuss. I should’ve known it’d be someone like you." She let out a sarcastic laugh. "Are you seriously complaining about the price? Do you have any idea what kind of people shop here? Real women are over there—" she gestured toward the $50,000 and $100,000 rings "—not stuck here whining about a little money."

At that moment Valentina’s lips pressed into a thin line. She had no intention of responding, but she could feel the heat creeping up her spine.

Victoria smirked, shaking her head in amusement. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"You’re not even ashamed, are you? Complaining about a ring like this while standing in a store meant for actual elites." She let out a dramatic sigh, feigning disappointment.

"Some people really don’t know their place."

At that moment Victoria’s smirk faltered when Valentina finally met her gaze, her expression calm, unbothered.

"I should’ve known it was you," Valentina said, her voice carrying a quiet sharpness.

"No manners, no decency. It makes sense why no one looks your way. You act like a queen, yet you don’t even have a throne or even close to having one."

Immediately Victoria’s eyes widened, the insult landing harder than she expected.

"What did you just say?" she hissed, her perfectly manicured fingers tightening into fists.

Valentina tilted her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"You act as if your family name alone will hand you a perfect life. But tell me, how’s that working out for you?"

Victoria’s face twisted with anger, but something else flickered in her expression—confusion.

That voice. It sounded familiar.

Her gaze traveled up, locking onto Valentina’s face.

Immediately the sneer disappeared.

Shock washed over her features.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"Valentina..."

The woman in front of her looked nothing like the burned, pitiful girl she remembered. The scars were gone. Completely gone. And in their place was a woman even more beautiful than before.

At that moment Victoria’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

She blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear her vision, but the image before her remained the same—Valentina, standing tall, her once-scarred skin flawless, her presence commanding as ever.

This isn’t possible.

Her mind scrambled to process what she was seeing. Just a week ago, Chloe had told her that Valentina was finished.

That she was nothing more than a disfigured, pitiful woman shackled to some homeless man Chloe had handpicked to humiliate her.

But the woman in front of her...She was breathtaking.

Victoria’s throat tightened. Even if Valentina had gone through extensive surgeries, even if she had paid top-tier doctors, there was no way this kind of transformation could happen in just a week.

Her eyes darted to the scarf still draped over Valentina’s head.

If she looked this stunning already, then...

Victoria swallowed hard.

She had mocked Valentina just moments ago, but now, she couldn’t even find her voice. Every assumption she had made, every bit of scorn she had thrown at her, suddenly felt like a cruel joke—one that had turned on her.